ENG-2002 — Page 494

RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS

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Sports Subsidy Scheme

The LCSD continued to run the Sports Subsidy Scheme, which provides financial assistance to sports associations for organising sports events, training programmes and competitions. In 2002, the department spent $40 million on 6217 sports programmes which attracted over 590 000 participants. Among the most popular training programmes were the Youth Football Scheme, New Generation Table Tennis Training Courses, Youth Windsurfing Promotion Scheme and Youth Wushu Training Scheme.

During the year, the National Sports Associations concerned were given subsidies under the scheme to organise the 2002 FIVB (Federation Internationale de Volleyball) World Grand Prix Final and Hong Kong Ladies Challenge (Tennis). The hosting of these events helped to reinforce Hong Kong's status as a leading centre for sport in Asia.

Sports and Recreational Venues

Hong Kong Stadium

This is Hong Kong's largest sports venue with 40 000 seats. The stadium is used mainly for football and international rugby matches, although large-scale religious gatherings and fund-raising events for charity are also held. In total, 331 732 spectators attended 27 events at the venue in 2002.

Other Sports and Recreational Venues

The LCSD manages 83 sports centres, 36 swimming pool complexes, 268 tennis courts, 324 squash courts, 24 sports grounds, four holiday camps, four water sports centres, five golf driving ranges and two public riding schools.

Three new recreation and sport venues and two improvement projects were completed in 2002: Siu Sai Wan Promenade, Ap Lei Chau Park (Phase II), Luen Wo Hui Complex, Improvement to Aberdeen Sports Ground and Improvement to Victoria Park. Works were in progress on 15 other projects: namely Aldrich Bay Promenade, Jordan Valley Playground (Phase II, Stage 2), Tai Kok Tsui Complex (Phase 2), Tai Po Complex, Indoor Recreation Centre cum Library in Area 100 Ma On Shan, Local Open Space in Area 44 Tuen Mun, Improvement Works to the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village and the Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre, Local Open Space in Areas 18 and 21 Fanling/Sheung Shui, Local Open Space in Area 14 (Mouse Island) Tuen Mun, District Open Space Areas 3 and 8 Tsing Yi, Kowloon Bay Recreation Ground, District Open Space in Area 5 Tai Po, Football Pitch in Area 5 Tai Po, Ma On Shan Sports Ground (Phase II) and Local Open Space in Area 15 Tin Shui Wai.

Beaches and Swimming Pools

Swimming is one of Hong Kong's most popular summer pastimes. In 2002, people made 8.8 million visits to the beaches, and there were 10.3 million visits to the public swimming pools managed by the LCSD. The HKSAR has 36 gazetted bathing beaches open for public use 11 on Hong Kong Island and 25 in the New Territories and outlying islands. The LCSD manages 36 public swimming pool complexes in the urban areas and the New Territories.